Christina is highly knowledgeable and offers excellent service.
Paternity cases come with questions that hit hard: Am I legally the father? Will I have a say in my child’s life? Can I count on support if I’m raising this child alone?
Whether you’re seeking to establish paternity, challenge it, or figure out what rights and responsibilities come with it, the answers carry weight—and consequences.
At Ellis Family Law, P.L.L.C in North Carolina., we guide mothers, fathers, and guardians through every side of the process with clarity, respect, and a steady focus on the future. This isn’t just about DNA. It’s about what comes next—and how to handle it with confidence.
In North Carolina, if a child is born outside of marriage, the biological father does not automatically have legal rights.
That means:
On the other hand, if someone is incorrectly listed as the father, that person could face years of financial responsibility without a true legal or emotional connection.
Paternity isn’t just a formality. It’s the key that unlocks both rights and responsibilities.
As Durham paternity attorneys, we know these cases are often personal, emotional, and private. We protect your rights—and your child’s stability—with precision and discretion.
There are two main ways paternity can be established:
If both parents agree, they can sign an Affidavit of Parentage—often done at the hospital or shortly after birth. This form establishes legal paternity without court involvement.
If there’s disagreement or uncertainty, either party can file a legal action to establish paternity. The court may order a DNA test to determine biological connection. Once confirmed, the court can then issue orders on:
We help you navigate this process step by step—whether you’re initiating it or responding to it.
If you’re not married to your child’s mother, you don’t automatically have legal rights—even if you’re involved in their life.
Without legally established paternity—through an affidavit or court order—your rights aren’t protected and can be challenged at any time:
We help fathers establish paternity quickly, legally, and respectfully—so you can stay present in your child’s life and parent from a place of strength.
If your child’s other parent hasn’t stepped up, or you’ve been handling everything alone, paternity may be the missing piece.
Establishing legal paternity gives you the ability to
We help you protect your child’s needs without turning everything into a fight.
Sometimes, someone is listed as the father—but doesn’t believe he is. Other times, paternity was assumed but never legally verified.
In these cases, we help you:
We understand that these cases can carry shame, stress, or uncertainty. We walk you through them with respect and resolve.
We represent parents—married or not—across Durham, Chapel Hill, Hillsborough, and throughout the Triangle.
Whether your paternity issue is just beginning or needs to be resolved after years of uncertainty, we’re here to help you find clarity and move forward.
We also offer private consultations and virtual appointments for sensitive or time-sensitive matters.
Our board-certified specialists lead every case with strategy, care, and a commitment to your best outcome.
Christina is highly knowledgeable and offers excellent service.
...Christina is highly knowledgeable and offers excellent service.
Amanda Knight at Ellis Family Law handled my case with attention to detail, thoroughness, and good communication. I was given top notch legal advice and representation on how to navigate...
Amanda Knight at Ellis Family Law handled my case with attention to detail, thoroughness, and good communication. I was given top notch legal advice and representation on how to navigate through a difficult divorce and custody battle. I recommend Ms. Knight to anyone seeking fair and legal representation from basic divorce settlements, mediation, to complicated litigation.
Top notch Divorce Lawyer who helped me through one of the darkest times of my life and enabled me to come out on the smiling side of the divorce. Kathleen’s...
Top notch Divorce Lawyer who helped me through one of the darkest times of my life and enabled me to come out on the smiling side of the divorce. Kathleen’s has a very low tolerance for the bullshit that always surrounds a divorce and focuses like a laser on what is most important, child custody and asset division IAW North Carolina 50-50 law. She is a professional and gives good advice and is the perfect person to have at the helm through the hurricane that will be your divorce! Choose her to represent you and you too will be on the smiling side of the divorce on your way to a brighter future.
Ms. Osbourne has been a great representative for my concerns. Her knowledge and skill in addressing my case leaves me ready to praise her attentiveness to achieve the best outcome...
Ms. Osbourne has been a great representative for my concerns. Her knowledge and skill in addressing my case leaves me ready to praise her attentiveness to achieve the best outcome for me. I look forward to working with her in the future! Many thanks to the entire Ellis Family Law team!
THANK YOU!!! Thank You!! thank you! Kathleen Murphy was the most important partner in my divorce process! From the initial contact to the final resolution of the divorce judgment and...
THANK YOU!!! Thank You!! thank you!
Kathleen Murphy was the most important partner in my divorce process! From the initial contact to the final resolution of the divorce judgment and financial distribution, Kathleen WAS EXEMPLARY!
Email communication and in-person telephone conversations were always supportive, informative, and targeted to the phase of work being done:
Introduction to team members
document production / validation
filings with the court
clearly identifying the action plans for each of us
Kathleen = VERY BEST ATTORNEY!!!
Paralegal = superb!!
Administrative support = on point!
Words are important. Words have meaning. Kathleen was very discerning and careful with the words both in the courtroom and in court filings. Kathleen is dedicated to and intentional about the law/laws for divorce and family law, asset and property division! She was resolute to her commitment to my legal action!
Sincerely, thank you!
Audrey M
I have known Sarah Mercer for many years and she has always been so easy to talk to and is great at problem solving! I can always trust her to...
I have known Sarah Mercer for many years and she has always been so easy to talk to and is great at problem solving! I can always trust her to be fair and knowledgeable!
Whether you’re trying to step up, seek support, or defend your rights, paternity is the foundation of it all. We help you establish the truth, then build a plan that protects what matters most.
Because parenthood deserves more than guesswork. It deserves legal clarity.
And for a fun twist: don’t miss our “Pour Decisions” section, featuring wine tips from our lawyer-wine specialist Gray Ellis!
